Julie Van Winkle, Director of The 25th Annual Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA), announced today that the 2013 tour, June 15-22, will feature a route in western Ohio. The expected 2,500 riders will start gathering for the tour on Saturday, June 15, at the Champaign County Fairgrounds in Urbana. They will begin cycling on Sunday, June 16, covering an average of 50 miles per day, and will overnight in Troy on Sunday and Monday, Greenville on Tuesday, New Bremen on Wednesday and Thursday, Sidney on Friday, and will return to Urbana on Saturday, June 22.

Some of the many attractions featured on this tour include the Bicycle Museum of America, Cedar Bog, Johnny Appleseed Museum, Great Miami River Trail, plane rides at WACO Airfield, Garst Museum and Annie Oakley Center, Kitchenaid Experience, Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics, Miami & Erie Canal, Johnston Farm & Indian Agency, Lake Loramie State Park, and other historic sites, covered bridges, and nature areas.

The fun-filled week will include the traditional bicycle parade and the gala opening ceremonies in Urbana, family-oriented entertainment each night, ice skating, swimming, options for bus excursions, floating in the Miami River while taking in the band called HOTEL CALIFORNIA, the original Eagles tribute band, two layover days offering bicycle loops of 50- or 100-miles to Dayton's Carillon Park or to Wapakoneta's Armstrong Air & Space Museum, and the ever-popular GOBA Song Contest.

"Part class reunion, part family gathering, GOBA-2013 will revisit a part of the state that is always popular with cyclists: the upcoming tour promises gentle terrain, Ohio history brought to life, magical views, the serene natural beauty of wildlife reserves, and the desire to linger in the friendly atmosphere of the host towns along our route,” Van Winkle stated.

This will be the twenty-fifth year for GOBA. The tour is owned and organized by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, a non-profit organization, for the benefit of bicycle-related projects in Ohio. In 2012, 2,000 people from 39 states, the District of Columbia, Japan, Switzerland, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia, Canada, took part in the tour. Included in this number were many families: nearly 20% of the participants are children traveling with their parents, making GOBA the largest family-oriented bicycle tour in the world.

Over the past twenty-three years GOBA has been instrumental in generating nearly $10 million in tourism revenues in the towns along the route, as well as in providing access to Ohio's rural treasures to people from all over the country. "Ohio has an amazing wealth of quiet roads that are perfect for bicycle touring. Besides, GOBA riders find that the lovely scenery, the warm hospitality of the small towns, the interesting museums and parks all add up to one great vacation,” Van Winkle stated.

Those interested in receiving registration information and tour details can request a brochure by calling 614-273-0811 or by visiting the website at www.goba.com. Brochures will also be available by February in many Ohio bicycle shops. Advance registration is required with a deadline of May 15, 2013.